Produced for the

27 February – 4 March 2016

Using subsidised seed to catalysedemand-driven bean seed systems in MalawiJ.C. Rubyogo1. R Magreta2 .D Kambewa2 .R Chirwa1 .E Mazuma3 .and A Martin4

1International Centre for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), 2 Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources, 3Department of Agricultural Research Services, Chitedze Research Station, 4Demeter Agricultural Limited.

Malawi grows over 260,000 ha ofbeans annually, translating to 20,800tonnes of seed. The challenge has beenin limited bean seed supply of improvedseeds.

Previously, the government and NGOsengaged smallholder farmers toproduce certified bean seed. Otherinitiatives through NGOs focused onnon-certified using farmer-to-farmerexchange. These approaches wereproject based and proved not to besustainable.

Therefore there was need to engage theprivate sector through public-privatepartnership (PPP) for a steady andsustainable bean seed supply system.

A six-step process in catalyzing andsustaining the PPP collaboration forproducing and delivering improvedbean seed was followed ;1. Creating public awareness of

released varieties.2. Building partnerships to scale up

supply.3. Making basic seed of preferred

varieties available to DAL and support services.

4. Scheduling activities around seed production, variety promotion, and seed distribution to a larger community for planting.

5. Participatory evaluation and performance tracking.

6. Generating and disseminating lessons learnt for scaling up.

A follow up study was conducted in2012 to assess farmers and actors alongthe bean seed supply chain satisfactionabout the bean varieties and operations

Contact: Jean Claude Rubyogoj.c.rubyogo@cgiar.org

Through an innovative PPP, DemeterAgricultural Limited, along with theMalawi National Bean Program and theInternational Center for TropicalAgriculture, supplied 2,559 tons ofcertified bean seed between 2009 and2012 through the government’sTargeted Farm Input Subsidy Program.

Growing numbers accessed newimproved varieties, from 264,661households in 2009 to 344,200 in 2012packed in 1.5kg seed packs.

Farmers were satisfied with the varietysupplied, timeliness of the operation,pack size, and information provided.They expressed interest in purchasingthe bean varieties in the event that theTFISP phase out.

This provides a base for buildingsustainable delivery systems. However,decentralised seed-based systems areneeded for promoting varieties suitedto micro-ecological niches.

Results indicated that use of a privatecompany to supply bean seed is a majorbreak through in the seed sector.

Survey results showed that bean seedsupply operations responded to farmerseed demands effectively in terms ofvariety, targeted areas, seed quality.

Multiple market outlets for bean seeddelivery can be explored to supplementwhat DAL is doing.

Table 1: Seed Supplied and Sold During 2009-10

Introduction Results

Methods

Conclusions

Variety Seed Supplied (kg)

Seed Sold (kg)

Seed Left (kg)

Kholophethe(SUG131)

373,305 334,302 39,003

Napilira(CAL143)

14,435 14,435 0

Kalima(PVA692)

9,110 9,110 0Kholophethe (SUG131) Napilira (CAL143)

High quality seed, from trusted sources available to small holder farmers;

Packed in ‘risk free’ sizes. With agronomic advice enclosed;

Made available to farmers in nearest outlet points possible.